Tandem repeat locus
Tandem Repeat Locus
A Tandem Repeat Locus (pronunciation: tan-dem ree-peat low-kus) is a specific region of the DNA where a particular sequence of nucleotides is repeated in a head-to-tail manner.
Etymology
The term "Tandem Repeat Locus" is derived from the Latin word 'tandem' meaning 'at length', 'repeat' from the Latin 'repetere' meaning 'to repeat', and 'locus' from the Latin 'locus' meaning 'place'.
Definition
A Tandem Repeat Locus is a sequence of two or more nucleotides that are repeated directly adjacent to each other in the DNA sequence. These repeats can range from two nucleotides to tens of nucleotides in length and can repeat from a few times to thousands of times.
Types of Tandem Repeat Loci
There are several types of tandem repeat loci, including:
- Microsatellites or Short Tandem Repeats (STRs): These are loci with repeat units of 2-6 base pairs. They are highly polymorphic and are often used in genetic fingerprinting and population genetics studies.
- Minisatellites or Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRs): These are loci with repeat units of 10-60 base pairs. They are also highly polymorphic and are used in DNA fingerprinting and paternity testing.
- Satellite DNA: These are larger tandem repeats found in centromeric and telomeric regions of chromosomes.
Function
The function of tandem repeat loci is not fully understood. However, they are thought to play a role in chromosome structure and function, gene regulation, and genomic evolution. They are also used in forensic science for DNA fingerprinting and in genetic studies to track inheritance patterns.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tandem repeat locus
- Wikipedia's article - Tandem repeat locus
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